Connect a custom domain

Every site you create on Espresso gets a free default domain — for example your-site.zimplify.cloud. You can also point your own domain (like app.yourcompany.com) at it. You can connect up to 3 custom domains per site.

Steps

1. Open your site and go to Connect your domain (on the create form, or Edit for an existing site).

2. Click + Add custom domain and type the domain you want to use, e.g. app.yourcompany.com. Save.

3. At your DNS provider, add a CNAME record pointing your domain to your site's default domain:

   Type	Name / Host	Value / Target
   CNAME	app (subdomain)	your-site.zimplify.cloud

   The exact target is shown in the Connect your domain section — it's always your site's *.zimplify.cloud address.

4. Wait for DNS to propagate (usually a few minutes, up to a few hours). Espresso automatically issues an HTTPS certificate once the record resolves — no extra setup needed.

Add the CNAME at your DNS provider

The screens differ by provider, but the values are always the same: choose type CNAME, set the host/name to your subdomain (e.g. app), and set the value/target to your site's *.zimplify.cloud domain. Step-by-step guides for popular providers:

• Cloudflare — Create DNS records — set Proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud), or the automatic certificate can't be issued.
• GoDaddy — Add a CNAME record
• Namecheap — Create a CNAME record
• Amazon Route 53 — Create records with the console
• Squarespace (including former Google Domains) — Add DNS records to your domain
• Hostinger — Manage CNAME records
• Porkbun — Add DNS records

Using a different provider? The steps are equivalent — look for DNS, DNS records, or Advanced DNS in your domain's settings.

Notes

• Subdomains (app., www., api.) work directly with a CNAME.
• Root / apex domains (yourcompany.com with no subdomain): most DNS providers don't allow a CNAME on the root. Either use a www subdomain, or use your provider's ALIAS / ANAME / "CNAME flattening" feature pointing to your *.zimplify.cloud address.
• Always point to your site's default .zimplify.cloud domain, never to a server IP — the IP can change.
• Remove a domain anytime with the × next to it, then save.

Troubleshooting

• Site not loading / certificate error: the CNAME hasn't propagated yet, or points to the wrong target. Verify with dig CNAME app.yourcompany.com (or an online DNS checker) — it should resolve to your *.zimplify.cloud domain.
• "Too many redirects" or wrong site: make sure the domain is added to the correct site and the CNAME target matches that site's default domain exactly.